Lorenzo Styles Jr. Runs 4.27 40 as Styles Family Dominates Early Combine Workouts
On the second day of on-field workouts at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, lorenzo styles ran a scalding official 4. 27-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time by a combine safety since at least 2003. The performance added to a weekend in which the Styles family and a wave of linebackers and defensive linemen turned heads at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Lorenzo Styles: 4. 27 40 and a 39-Inch Vertical
Lorenzo Styles Jr. recorded an official 4. 27-second 40-yard dash on Friday, a mark identified as the fastest by a combine safety since at least 2003. He opted not to perform the broad jump but posted a 39-inch vertical, placing him near the top of the leaderboards for that drill. It is uncommon for a safety to lead the defensive backs group in the 40, and Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. paced the cornerback group with a 4. 32-second time.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. made a position switch in college: he played wide receiver at Notre Dame in 2021 and 2022, catching 54 passes across those two seasons, before transferring to Ohio State and converting to defensive back. Across three seasons with the Buckeyes he did not record an interception but logged 46 tackles and seven passes defended. Lorenzo Styles Jr. is not considered the NFL prospect his brother is, but Friday's showing was a concrete performance that can only help his case.
Sonny Styles' Thursday Showcase
One day earlier, Sonny Styles produced a headline-grabbing workout. Sonny measured 6'5" and 244 pounds, posted a 43. 5-inch vertical, ran a 4. 46-second 40-yard dash (the same official time posted by Bijan Robinson), and recorded a 135-inch broad jump — a figure tied with Julio Jones' broad. Sonny's vertical was noted as the best for a player at his position dating back to 2003. With short-area quickness, sideline-to-sideline range and size, Sonny's measurements and athletic profile reinforced his status as a locked top-15 pick and raised talk of a potential top-five projection. Sonny was the combine headliner on Thursday with a showcase across jumping, running and positional work.
Linebackers and Defensive Linemen Raising Draft Stock
On-field workouts began for prospects on Thursday at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis with defensive linemen and linebackers taking the field. Results from Lucas Oil Stadium showed several inside and edge defenders enhancing their draft standing.
David Bailey, widely projected as a top-10 pick, ran a 4. 50-second 40-yard dash with a 1. 62-second 10-yard split, posted a 35-inch vertical and a 10'9" broad jump. His 40 was the fastest by any defensive lineman on the day, and his force during bag drills reinforced his explosiveness, speed-to-power profile and rush instincts; his performance could propel him toward a top-two projection.
Arvell Reese, who took snaps both as an edge rusher and an off-ball linebacker for Ohio State, clocked a 4. 47-second 40 and measured 6'4", 241 pounds. Reese displayed fluid movement in two-way go drills and the quickness that aided his ability to tackle in space. Jacob Rodriguez, a more under-the-radar entrant, reached a top speed of 18. 43 miles per hour during the backpedal-and-react drill — the fastest by any linebacker over the last four years, surpassing Jack Kiser, Jihaad Campbell, Trevin Wallace and Carson Bruener. Rodriguez also led linebackers in the 20-yard shuttle and the 3-cone drill, and he entered Indy with an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles in 2025; his collegiate hardware includes the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award, though age and size project him into the middle rounds.
Kyle Louis reinforced his Senior Bowl buzz with a 4. 53 40 (fifth among linebackers), a 1. 58 10-yard split (third), a 39. 50-inch vertical (fourth) and a 10'9" broad jump (second). While undersized by NFL linebacker standards, Louis offers flexibility to play box safety or a big nickel role and tallied 24 tackles for loss, six interceptions and 10 sacks across the past two seasons. Malachi Lawrence ran a 4. 52-second 40, second only to David Bailey, and entered the combine with 60 pressures over the previous two seasons; his ability to win inside or outside and a coveted height-weight-length frame created second-round buzz.
Other Measurements, Drills and Questions Emerging in Indianapolis
Beyond the Styles brothers and linebackers, Kenyon Sadiq made history on Friday by running the fastest 40-yard dash by a tight end since at least 2003. Measurement notes from Thursday included Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., whose arms measured 30 and 7/8 inches, and Bain said on Wednesday that NFL clubs did not appear overly focused on the matter. Some prospects skipped certain drills: Jermod McCoy elected not to participate in on-field workouts. Analysts and writers are compiling stock reports from Indianapolis, and staff coverage included a stock report roundup covering who boosted their draft stock and who stumbled.
Conference sessions and follow-up analysis continued as well: commentary pieces and a Daniel Jeremiah press conference prompted a five-takeaway set that examined which wide receivers could fit a particular NFC East team and which quarterback prospect might be on the rise. Questions also remain about positional fits, including which position OSU's Arvell Reese views himself playing at the next level.
Workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium are ongoing and the early results — from a historic safety 40 to linebacker and defensive-line explosiveness — are already reshaping evaluations and draft conversation. Details and rankings will continue to evolve as teams process the combine data.
